Marist vs. Griffith
1. In America, people call it college or school. In Australia, it's called university, or uni for short.
2. In America, undergraduate degrees are usually four years long, and students don't decide on a major until their second or third year. Freshmen and sophomores are required to do broad subjects - including things like science and physical education. In Australia, you apply for a specific, specialized degree, and generally have to choose a major in the first year. While first year students may still do broad subjects, they generally relate to their degree in some way. And undergraduate degrees typically last three years.
3. Depending on the college, Americans can pay around $20,000-30,000 per year, paying upfront each semester. While the cost depends on your institution and degree, an average Australian undergraduate degree costs $18,000-$30,000 total. And Aussie undergrads don't have to pay course fees upfront - the government pays for the degree through the interest-free HECS-HELP loan program, and once people have graduated and started earning $54,869 or more, the money is automatically repaid over time through the tax office.
4. In America, most people go to college far away from their hometowns and live on campus in dorms. Starring twin-size beds, weird smells, random roommates, and worst of all - community bathrooms. While some people live on campus in Australia, it's pretty common to attend your local university and stay living at home with your parents. The comfort of parental care and minimal costs complete with parental nagging and minimal privacy.
5. In America, most college towns have a collection of local dive bars that cater to students. It's all about cheap beer and shots, shots, shots. But the drinking age is 21, so fake IDs are important. In Australia, each uni has a unibar where students often hang out before hitting local bars. Students can drink legally from the age of 18 and some will drop in to the unibar during the day for a ~cheapish~ beer.
6. In America, people drink from red solo cups and play games like beer pong at house parties. In Australia, people drink from goon bags and play games like goon of fortune at house parties. (goon is boxed wine)
7. Spring Break is the biggest party of the year for American students. Everyone goes to a beach, drinks cheap alcohol, and makes terrible decisions. There's no Spring Break in Australia, but Schoolies is the biggest party of the year for people who have just finished high school. Everyone goes to a beach, drinks cheap alcohol, and makes terrible decisions.
8. In America, college sports are a very, very big deal. In Australia, uni sports clubs are pretty low-key.
9. In America, frats and sororities are a huge part of college life. In Australia, some people join clubs relating to their degree or interests, but many CBF with extra-curricular groups or activities.
10. School pride is a big thing in America, with people becoming very attached to their college and identifying with it even after they graduate. Most Aussies aren't quite as invested in their uni identity, although some unis do things to try to ~make it happen~.
11. In America, there's alumni weekend every year, where former students return to their school to celebrate it. Most alumni don't return to their uni once they've graduated - and if they do, it's just a casual drop-by.
